Unit wall construction



June 23, 1931.

A..O. THOMAS 1,811,161 I UNIT WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 6. 1929 '3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY flriia a 750772;:5

A TT ORNE Y UNIT WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2JNVENTOR BY VZZQ 0 7%07nas ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

AVILA O. THOMAS OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSTGNOR TO THE STRUCTURALCONCRETE UNITS CORPORATION, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COREPORIFLTION OFDELAWARE UNIT WALL CONSTRUCTION Application filed September 16, 1929.Serial No. 392,945.

This invention relates to wall constructions, and particularly tointerfitting wallforming units, precast of concrete or othercementitious material.

An object of the invention is to so interlock and tie together a systemof precast building units as to form a rigid, substantial wall such asmay be quickly and easily erected, at relatively low cost.

Another object is to form a hollow wall of spaced vertical sectionalcolumns and inner and outer wall plates extending between and abuttingsaid columns, and to extend tie members through the columns to connectsaid plates. 7

A further object is to form said columns of complementary channel-shapedunits, and to utilize said tie members to hold said units securely incomplementary relation.

a A still further object is to provide means for quicklyinter-connecting a pair of column-forming units incomplementaryrelation, preliminary to their assembly in a wall. Theseand various other objects the invention attains by theconstructionherein-' after described and illustrated in the ac ompanying drawings,wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a wall embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a top portion of one of thecolumn-forming units.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the complementary portion of one of the wallplates.

. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional View of the abutting ends of oneof two of the column units, one superposed on the other,

taken upon the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken upon the line 77 of Fig. 3 disclosinga connection between two wall plates resting one upon another andshowing the engagement of a tie member with one of said plates.

In these views, the reference characters 1 and 2 designate a pair ofchannel-shaped column-forming units of concrete or the like,

which, preliminary to their positioning in a rods 4.

wall, are oppositely arranged inthe abutting relation, clearly appearingin Figs. 1 and Said units are of a height suited for convenienthandling, and a sufiicient number thereof may be set one upon another tobuild up a column of desired height. Preferably the abutting faces ofsaid units are formed with inter-fitting V shaped ribs and chan-' nels 3extending the full height of said units to aid in their quick andaccurate assembly.

Cast into each unit 1 and 2 is a .pairof metal rods 4:, extending fromtop to bottom thereof, substantially at the junctures of theirrelatively transverse portions, acting to reinforce the units and alsoproviding for rigidly connecting superposed units. Thus said rodsterminally project into recesses 5 formed in the end faces of the unitsand are engageab-le within said recesses by couplingsleeves 6transversing the horizontal meeting plane of the units. 1

A tie connection is established between each pair of'unitsl and 2 attheir ends, by a pair of metal rods (or heavy wires) 7, ex tending inthe recesses 5 and having their ends looped, as indicated at 8, toembrace the l/Vhen initially set in said recesses, the loops 8 are,open, as appears in dash lines in Fig. 3, said. loops being subsequentlyclosed by pliers or some other suitable tool to tightly hug the rods 45.

. The columnsformed by. the units 1, 2 are suitably spaced, and betweenthe same are extended pairs of spaced wall plates 10, pre

cast of concrete or the like, a suitable numher thereof beingsuperposedone on another 1 to achieve the desired height. Said plates may be setflush with the columns, and their extremities are preferablyformed withpositioning ribs 11 coextensive in height with said plates and offsetfrom the outer faces of the latter to fit into channels 12exteriorlyformed in the units 1 and 2. It is preferred to reinforce the plates 10by centrally imbedding therein sheets 13 of a wire mesh or otherforaminated metallic fabric, substantially coextensive with said plates.

The ends of the wall plates are tied to the columns by pairs ofdiagonally crossed metal tie bars 14, arranged between the suimbedded inthe bottom portion. of each,

plate 10, and project into the recesses 16. A coupling sleeve lSwithinthe communi cating recesses 16 engages the aligned ends of saidpins as bestappears in. Fig. 7, there.-

b assurin accurate vertical -re istration of.

the tiers ofmiall plates. The bars lta'etain the plateslO at loppositesides ofthe columns properly engagedswith the latter, andfurthermore actthrough. said plates to supple. ment the. tie. rods 7-. inmaintainingthe proper abutting relation between the column units land2.. A

After .the columns. have becnbuilt up to the desired height,theynnay.befilledcwith concreteasappears inEi-g. l-to furtherincreasetheir. rigidity- The described a construction is simple and easilyerected, and its. parts. are. adapted .for rapid machine production.Thetie mem bers are. also. simple. and inexpensive, and may be.rapidlyappliedas each successive tier-ofthe wall .is completed;

The construction is furthermore one that imparts a highdegreeofrigidityto the completed .wall, permittingthe latter. to be:safely carried to a. considerable height. andgiving it. substantiallyall. of..- the advantages of. a monolithic. hollow. wall, while far lessexpensive.

The invention as exemplifiediin. the. drawings. discloses .the columnsas equal in .width to the wall.- Itis, however, to be understood that itfrequently. may be desirabletoenn ploy columns of'greater-.widththanthe.in= tervening. portions of the wall, particularlywhen the columns are. required tov carry heavy loads. Withoutdivergence,fromthe principles illustrated by thedrawings, differe'ntlyproportioned; columns .may be em ployedwithout variation in proportionsof the illustrated .wall I plates orin the spaced relation of the.paired plates. Eormationof the column-forming units separately. fromthe, wall plates renders the. several units lighter. and. more, readilyhandled than 7 would ,be the caseifthe wall plates and column unitswere. integrated, as wellias per, mitting the aforementioned variationin the column width relative. to the..width.of..the wall proper.

While itis apparent that;theillustrated embodiment of my inventionhereindis.- closediswell calculated to adequately fulfill the objectsand advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variation, modification and change withinthe spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. Ina. wall construction, a. plurality of hollow columns, eachcomprising one or more pairs of vertically abutting units, wall platesbetween said columns and abutting said units, and a common means formaintaining theabuttingrelation of the column-forming units with eachother and with said wall plates.

2. A wall construction comprising a pair of vertically. abutting,column-forming units, apair of wall plates oppositelyabutting the.column formed .by said units, and a. tie. mem: ber extending through.saidcolumnand connectingsaid units.

3:- A, walliconstruction comprising a pair, of columnwforming units,abuttingin a plane. parallel to the. wall, a pairof:wall;plates abuttingthe respectiveunits at opposite sides of the. column, and a. tie. memberextending. diagonally; through. the column maint aining engagement ofsaid plates with. the column, and; of said; units, with. each other..

4. A'wall construction comprising,a ,pair, of. vertically. abutting,columneforming units, a pair of wall plates. .extending substantially.parallel :to the. abutment, plane .of .said units and abutting saidunitsatopposite sides. of the. column. formed thereby, and tie. connectionsthrough the. column. between said wall plates.

5. A wallconstruction.comprisinga pair of; vertically. abutting,column-forming units, pairs. ofyspaced. wall plates. abutting opposite.sides ofisaid sunits. parallel to, their lane of abutment, anddiagonal,tieanem;

ers extending through the .columnand connecting said units.

6. A.wal1- construction comprising a, pair of vertically. abutting,-column-forming units, wall plates abutting opposite,. si c les ofthe.columnformedby, said units. in a diagonally opposed :relation, andinterlocked with said column, and a tie member ex.- tending through thecolumn .and connecting said plates.. 1

7'. A. wall 1 construction comprising a, pair ofv vertically abutting,column-forming units, a pairof spacedwall .plates abutting each sideiof.the column formed biy said units and interlocked with .said column, andpairs. of diagonal .tie members extending through the column. and:connecting said Wall plates.

8. A wallconstruction comprisinga co1= umn, wall plates abuttingopposite sides of said column, and.connections between said platesvpassing through the column.

9. A wall construction comprising acolumn, a pair of spaced wall platesabutting each of two opposite sides of said column, and tie membersdiagonally extendin through the column and connecting said wall plates.

10. A wall construction comprising a column, a pair of spaced wallplates abutting each of two opposite sides of said column and having atongue and groove engagement with said column, and tie membersdiagonally extending through the column and maintaining such engagement.

11. A wall construction comprising a pair of vertically abuttingcolumn-forming units, spaced pairs of wall plates abuttin each of twoopposite faces of the column formed by said units, and engagingshoulders on said units to maintain the spaced relation of said plates,and tie members diagonally extending through said column, connecting,

said plates and holding same against said shoulders of the column.

12. A wall construction comprising a pair of vertically abuttingcolumn-forming units, spaced pairs of wall plates abutting each of twoopposite faces of the column formed by said units, and terminallyfitting into vertical grooves in said units, and a common means formaintaining the abutting relation of the column-forming units and forholding said wall plates in engagement with said grooves.

13. A wall construction comprising superposed units havingconmiunicating recesses in their abutting faces, aligned anchorage pinsimbedded in said units and projecting into said recesses, and a sleevewithin said recesses surrounding the adjoining ends of said pins tomaintain vertical alignment of said units.

14;. A wall construction comprising superposed units havingcommunicating recesses in their abutting faces, members imbedded in saidunits having ends adjoining within said recesses, and means detachablyconnecting said ends within said recesses to resist relative lateralmovement of said units.

15. A wall construction comprising superposed cementitious units, metalrods imbedded in said units extending from top to bottom thereof, andhaving adjoining ends projecting from the units, and a sleevesurrounding said adjoining ends and resisting relative lateral movementof said units.

16. A wall construction comprising units arranged in superposed courses,tie members connect-ing the units of each course, and anchorage elementsfor said tie members imbedded in said units, said anchorage elements ofsuperposed units being interengaged to resist relative lateral movementof the superposed units.

17. A wall construction comprising a pair of abutting units respectivelyforming inner and outer faces of a wall, pairs of anchorfication.

AVILA O. THOMAS.

